What we failed to realize
Was that the untouched dark section of the paint brush palette
Became the symbol of the melanin in our skin
The painters only used us to write words that were dark enough to be Noticed on a white background
So if words are all we are good for
Then don't you dare tell us to silence our voices when we choose to speak

So don't be surprised that we have become rebellious for what has happened to us
When every black student in class feels like Rosa Parks on the bus
We are trying to rewind time with role reversal as our revenge
Because we have no other choice when the university refuses to come to our defense
But we've come come too far
To let history repeat itself
Even when they are peeling off the dark fur of the Bruin pelt
because our faces are just used to cover up from the public what's Really inside
Revitalizing lies to perpetuate your disguise
Stop pretending
That the wounds of our past have healed
We are not asking for a handout
We are asking for a level playing field

Those with less opportunity are fighting for their position trying to find their place
But those with privilege
Are hitting triples, when they were already born on third base

So with all my brothers' hopes and dreams
That this university has tried to ruin
How to hell am I supposed to be proud
To call myself...a BRUIN?

More on Genius

About “The Black Bruins”

A group of UCLA students, led by Sy Stokes, posted a video voicing their concerns about the number of black students on campus, and their message is hard to ignore. Stokes, a third-year Afro-American studies student who identifies as black, Cherokee and Chinese, recites a spoken word poem in the video, citing blaring statistics about the university’s diversity issue.

In fall 2012, the total enrollment for graduate and undergraduate for african-american males at UCLA was 660 students. That’s 3.3 percent of the 19,838 other males enrolled here. Out of that 660 African-American male students, sixty-five percent are undergraduate athletes. The number of entering male freshmen students was 2,418. Only 48 of them are African-American. The graduation rates for african-american males at UCLA is 74%, which means out of that 48 freshman last year only 35 are predicted to graduate.